04/06/2017
The United States is encouraged by China's efforts to restrain North Korea but Washington will not accept Beijing's militarization of islands in the South China Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday.
The comments by Mattis, during the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, show how U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is looking to balance working with China to restrain North Korea's advancing missile and nuclear programs while dealing with Beijing's activities in the South China Sea.
"We oppose countries militarizing artificial islands and enforcing excessive maritime claims," Mattis added. "We cannot and will not accept unilateral, coercive changes to the status quo."
Read more at Reuters
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